News Bits: AMD M690 Mobile Platform Released, Apple BootCamp now Supports Vista

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AMD unveils new M690 mobile platform with enhanced Vista support

AMD has announced the availability of their new M690 chipset. The M690 is a product jointly developed by ATI and AMD. It features Display Cache, which allows the CPU to function in a low-power mode without accessing the system memory; coupled with AMD Turion 64 X2 processors, battery life is extended up to 30 minutes over previous AMD mobile platforms.

The AMD M690 chipset features ATI Radeon X1200 series graphics and it is the first mobile AMD chipset to support ATI Avivo technology, which provides smoother video playback, including HD content. The M690 is the first chipset with integrated HDMI and DVI outputs.

The new M690 chipset is used in the new HP Compaq 6515b, Compaq 6715b, and HP 510 notebooks.

Read More (Business Wire)

AMD Product Page

 

Vista support added to Bootcamp 1.2 and other enhancements

Apple has released what could be the last update to BootCamp before Leopard is released, version 1.2. Most importantly, it adds Vista support in addition to the following:

• Improved trackpad, audio, iSight, graphics, and modem drivers
• Support for Apple Remote in iTunes and WMP
• Boot Camp info in system tray
• Foreign language support
• Apple Software Update

Read More (Gizmodo)

Product Page (Apple)

 

Microsoft claim of 20 million Vista sales doesn't add up

There has been some skepticism over Microsoft's recent claim of 20 million Vista sales in the the operating system's opening month. The claim simply does not add up when assessing who realistically bought a Vista license &quot;in the opening month.&quot; It is difficult to justify calling Windows Vista a success by counting the number of licences sold. There are three reasons why the numbers don't add up:

• The sales period Microsoft is using is significantly longer than 30 days - it's closer to 4 months
• License sales in the channel do not correspond to the number of actual Vista PC sales out of the channel
• The 20 million figure does not match real-world PC sales

Read More (Microsoft Watch)

 

Dell to pre-install Linux on consumer notebooks as well as business

Dell is responding to the thousands of requests customers made on its IdeaStorm website - nearly 70% of participants requested Linux on Dell machines. Linux will be pre-installed soon on consumer desktops and laptops. How much money one will save by opting for Linux instead of a Microsoft operating system is unknown. The release date is also unknown, but it's not likely to be soon; Dell still has some research to do with regards to compatibility as well as training its support department to handle Linux inquiries.

Read More (Engadget)

 

Acer implements InstantSupport for notebooks

noHold, a developer of sophisticated virtual agent technology, has announced that Acer America has implemented and deployed InstantSupport. InstantSupport is a diagnostic and interactive expert system that can resolve customer support issues without human intervention. It was first deployed in 2006 on one notebook; out of 20,000 customers who used InstantSupport during the first few months of its implementation, InstantSupport had a resolution rate of approximately 63%. Acer has now extended it onto its full line of notebook computers.

Read More (Business Wire)

 

AMD M690...thats good to hear that AMD is bringing up something to compete with Intel's Centrinos

 

I suppose instantsupport saves on paying for human support, if the 63% extrapolates to their wholecustomer base

 

This X1200 series graphics, thats the X700 based one right?

 

Well, whaddya gonna do with Micro-soft?

 

Yes, it's based on the X700 core so it's only 9.0b, but it does have AVIVO technology from the X1xxx series. The performance will be like a X600 though.

What's funny is that the mobile Xpress X1250 has been out for Intel for months now. AMD actually launched their new IGP and platform for Intel first. It's just that very few people have actually used it probably because the X200M is so much cheaper for low-end models, and if notebook makers were going to spend a little bit more, they might as well go Centrino to benefit from the included advertisement.

 

whats this.....


Memory Interface [For AMD M690T only]
- Supports a dedicated display cache (side-port) of up to 128MB
- New dynamic memory allocation scheme improves performance and reduces power simultaneously

 

Can't wait to see some benchmarks. A nice little 12" with this chipset seems like it would go alright. With integrated HDMI you can plug it into a HDTV when at home for some HD goodness .

 

1. The side port bus allows OEM's to add dedicated memory if they desire to.
2. Dynamic memory allocation is basically the allocation of shared memory as and when the graphics card needs it instead of allocating fixed amount.

 

Sweet. People are comparing the x1200 to the x600. Is that good? I'll have to check the performance chart.

At any rate, having something new from AMD is good. I've been looking to get a new laptop very soon, and Intel was just taking too long (and I"m sure the new chipset will be at a high premium). Now all HP needs to do is get rid of its GARBAGE GMA950 line or the geforce 6150 and put this one in instead.

 

But for an IGP, X600 level performance is pretty good....the mobile version of GMA X3000 will only be at X300 level or maybe a bit better.
Then again, I must ask, is the X1250 going to be more powerful than the X1300?

 

Looks like a great chipset. No DX10 capability doesn't mean much really, it's like the GPU would be fast enough for next-generation games anyway. Now what's up with the X1270? Is it be a faster version of the X1250? ATI describes it as "saving yet more battery life". Now that just doesn't make a whole lot of sense doesn't it? Maybe it's based on more advanced nanosecond technology?

edit:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the HP 510 a Pentium-M? The chances of it getting the new chipset is next to nil.

 

Actually, early reports of the GMA x3000 have it placed closer to an x1400/GF7400. It also supports DX10.

 

I'm glad to see Dell offer Linux soon. It'd be great not to have to pay for a Microsoft License especially if you don't want it, won't use it, or don't need it.

I'm not at all surprised about the Vista thing either. The numbers MS has been pumping out don't seem realistic at all. I've only seen one Vista system here on campus so far. Most people seem to stick with XP or install XP overtop of Vista due to compatability and driver problems.

 

The G965 desktop chipset has been out for months now and real world gaming performance hasn't been good.

It owns the 6150 and 690G desktop chipsets in 3DMark06 as seen here.

But can't deliver for games, http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2942&p=8